Construction and Building Inspectors: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Construction and Building Inspectors

Construction and Building Inspectors inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.

Salary
$66470
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Post-secondary certificate
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Construction and Building Inspectors inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.

  • Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
  • Inspect facilities or installations to determine their environmental impact.
  • Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
  • Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
Read more about what does a Construction and Building Inspector really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$63150 per year

Average hourly wage
$30 per hour


Construction and Building Inspectors with little to no experience tend to make between $35440 and $45920 while the more experienced ones can earn over $77400 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
CA $43 $89,680
ND $41 $85,040
AK $40 $83,270
DC $39 $80,530
WA $37 $76,570

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Construction and Building Inspector is to move to a higher paying state like CA. Right now, the highest paying states for Construction and Building Inspectors are CA, ND, AK, DC and WA.

However, a higher pay at CA doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at CA might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Construction and Building Inspector is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Post-secondary certificate

We asked other Construction and Building Inspectors what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Post-Secondary Certificate followed by a Bachelor’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector
Read more about how to become a Construction and Building Inspector and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Construction and Building Inspector.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who wants to work in a supportive work environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Demand for this career is growing fast
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
74%

Is this job meaningful
67%


74% of Construction and Building Inspectors said they were satisfied with their job and 67% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Alpha Home and Commercial Building Inspections

I have been a home and commercial building inspector for 16 years and have performed over 4000 inspections, our company has performed over 10,000 inspections. Because of my background in commercial construction and development, I have focused my inspection career on commercial building inspections. For a newer inspector, the days are very long. The biggest … Read More


Waypoint Property Inspection

My Typical Day The typical day of a construction/building inspector can differ depending on the type of construction and the client. For example, most of our clients are for home buyers buying their first home (or having one built) or for businesses looking to purchase a building for their business. Most days, we are waking … Read More



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Organizers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.



Learn more about Construction and Building Inspectors

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Construction and Building Inspectors job description, Construction and Building Inspectors salary, Construction and Building Inspectors information, what is the job of a Construction and Building Inspector like, pros and cons about Construction and Building Inspectors, colleges and universities for Construction and Building Inspectors, is Construction and Building Inspectors the right career for me, careers in Construction and Extraction

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